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Thursday, November 7, 2013

1873 Commencement Program of Rockland Female Institute at Nyack, New York, & Student Annie's Autograph Album from 1872

Two companion items, an 1873 Commencement Program of Rockland Female Institute, at Nyack-on -Hudson, New York, the part of the Institute dedicated to young ladies, and Annie's 1872 autograph album with pages signed by students and others.

The program is one sheet of paper, approximately 10-1/2" x 8-1/8", folded once into final dimensions of 5-1/4" x 8-1/8". Only three of the panes have text.The autograph album is approximately 5-1/4" x 3-1/8 and contains 13 pages of sentiments signed by Annie's friends, classmates and at least one instructor. There may have been more at one time, but some pages were removed at some point. An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.See an engraving of the imposing building of the Rockland Female Institute and a brief history here.The commencement program lists some names with just the surname and a few with the full name. It's possible that the students listed with their full name comprised the graduating class, but I can't be sure.

Names of people on the page above: [Some appear multiple times.]

Miss Merrill

Miss Florence Mansfield

Miss Collier

Miss Cosgrove

Mrs. L. McLeod

Miss Stuart

Miss Fitch [There was a Kittie Fitch of New York City who signed a page in Annie's album.]

Miss de Cordova

Miss Ophelia Fowler of LaFayette, Indiana [She signed a page in Annie's album]

Elsie De R. Morford signed a page at Nyack, New York, on February 12, 1872. She was likely the Elsie De Riemer Morford of Cazenovia, New York, who would marry Dr. Edward H. Maynard of Cazenovia in 1878.

Kittie Fitch, whose home residence was 240 West 43rd Street, New York City, signed a page at Rockland Female Institute on February 1, 1872.

Ophelia Fowler, whose home address was 109 Stull Avenue, Lafayette, Indiana, signed a page on February 5, 1872. She lived in room 12 at Rockland Female Institute.

Laura Pye signed a page at Nyack, New York. She lived in Room 17 at Rockland Female Institute.

Clifford Alberta Stanford of Clarkeville, Georgia, signed a page at Rockland Female Institute on May 19, 1872.

Josie Wicks signed a page at Rockland Female Institute on February 7, 1872. Her middle initial was S or L or T or...

Nettie Schuyler and Minnie Schuyler of New York City signed pages at Rockland Female Institute on February 7, 1872.

Mademoiselle E. Hortense Senegas of France, a French language and drawing and painting instructor, signed a page at Nyack, New York, on January 28, 1872.

If you have a theory as to Annie's identify or information on any of the other signers, all listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly. Thanks!

List of signers: [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]

Ophelia Fowler of LaFayette, Indiana, 109 South Ave., signed on February 5, 1872

Elsie De R. Morford, signed at Nyack, New York, on February 12, 1872. Elsie De Riemer Morford, who would marry Dr. Edward H. Maynard of Cazenovia, New York in 1878.

Laura Pye of Nyack, New York, lived in Room No. 17

Nettie Schuyler of New York City, signed at Rockland Institute, on February 7, 1872

Minnie Schuyler of New York City, signed on February 7, 1872

E. H. Senegas, signed at Nyack, New York, on January 28, 1872. Presumably French native Mlle. E. Hortense Senegas, an instructor in drawing and painting

Clifford Alberta Stanford of Clarkeville, Georgia, signed at R. F. Institute, on May 19, 1872

Josie Wicks, signed at Rockland Female Institute, on February 7, 1872. Middle initial could be S or L

Clara Woodruff of Chicago, Illinois; she signed facing pages. She doesn't give her surname, but the accompanying commencement program lists a Clara Woodruff of Chicago, Illinois, and one of the facing pages mentions Chicago. Clara may have been Annie's roommate in Room 27 at Rockland Female Institute